ADD/ADHD Online Information

ADD/ADHD Research

Nonstimulant Therapy Shows Effectiveness in ADHD

Friday May 11 11:47 AM ET

Nonstimulant Therapy Shows Effectiveness in ADHD

By Paula Moyer

NEW ORLEANS (Reuters Health) - An experimental drug could offer an effective
nonstimulant alternative for treating attention-deficit/hyperactivity
disorder (ADHD), according to Dr. David Michelson, who spoke here at the
154th annual meeting of the American Psychiatric Association.

Atomoxetine is more effective than placebo for treating ADHD and may be more
easily tolerated, said Michelson, medical director at Eli Lilly, the company
responsible for the drug's development. In a presentation of several studies
funded by Eli Lilly that involved adults and children, he and his colleagues
concluded that atomoxetine was superior to placebo in controlling ADHD
symptoms.

ADHD is characterized by impulsiveness, difficulty with academic and social
functioning, and short attention span. It is most frequently treated with the
stimulant drug Ritalin (news - web sites).

In one study in which some patients were given Ritalin, investigators found
some evidence that atomoxetine is more easily tolerated. For example,
atomoxetine does not appear to be associated with insomnia.

``Atomoxetine seems to work by blocking the norepinephrine transporter and
doesn't involve the dopamine receptors directly,'' he told Reuters Health.
``Therefore, it has a different mechanism of action than the stimulants
commonly used to treat ADHD.''

``Clinicians and parents have been looking for alternatives to stimulants for
the treatment of ADHD for years,'' Dr. Christopher Kratochvil, assistant
professor of psychiatry at the University of Nebraska, told Reuters Health.
``There are concerns about side effects, and about reports of children and
adolescents using it recreationally. We're looking for an alternative class
of medications that will be effective and have a different side effects
profile than stimulants. Indications are that atomoxetine is not an abusable
drug.''

In addition, stimulants are not effective for every patient with ADHD. For
example, children with ADHD who have other conditions, such as anxiety
disorder, may be more effectively treated with a nonstimulant alternative,
said Kratochvil, who was an investigator in the study. He has also worked as
a consultant for Eli Lilly and other companies.

In his experience, Kratochvil said, atomoxetine has been a safe and effective
treatment for the management of this condition. Phase III studies of
atomoxetine are ongoing, and Eli Lilly is preparing to submit an application
to the Food and Drug Administration (news - web sites) for approval of this
drug for the treatment of ADHD later this year, Kratochvil told Reuters
Health.